All victims claimed that they received extortion calls from three different numbers - 7258865614, 7261878008 and 7260923963 - between July 6 to July 8. In each instance the caller asked the respective individual to deposit Rs 10 lakh each into a specific bank account.

Patel, a former minister in Nitish and Manjhi cabinet, said he thought the caller had dialled a wrong number. “When I asked him did he know whom he was talking to, the caller said, "Patel ji se baat ho rahi hai. I thought I must inform the police," Patel said.

Patna SSP Vikas Vaibhav took the matter seriously and two separate FIRs have been registered with Shashtri Nagar and Sachivalaya police stations. During investigation, the police found that the callers had sent SMSes from Madhepura district.

All of them are residents of Maghaili Diara village under Alam Nagar police station in Madhepura.

They had sent extortion threats via SMSes to around 40 people prior to this.

Police have also recovered 17 SIM cards, three cell phones, voter ID cards, bank account numbers and mobile numbers of several government and administrative officials, besides MLAs and ministers, were recovered from the possession of the arrested people.

“It was a big breakthrough for the police as pressure was increasing following repeated complaints from a number of influential people, including a minister, former ministers, and several legislators and officials, about threats and extortion demands,” said Sunil Kumar, adding that the Babloo Master was trying to settle scores with one Mohammad Sajjad and Rajesh Ram. The two SIM cards procured were on their names.

The ADG said, Bhagal and Ali were in jail in separate cases. Further investigation, as well as interrogation of the accused, is currently underway to determine the full size and extent of the extortion racket.